PRINCETON, Mo. – Murphy-Brown of Missouri, LLC (MBM) has joined another project to turn the byproducts of hog production into renewable energy. MBM is a livestock production subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc., Smithfield, Va.

MBM and Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC will develop a $110 million renewable biogas operation in Northern Missouri that will harvest biogas from MBM finishing farms using anaerobic digestion technology.
"This is an important sustainability project for Murphy-Brown of Missouri,” said Michael Rainwater, general manager of MBM. “Not only does it demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the environment and to our neighbors, but it also allows us to make facility upgrades that are good for our employees, our animals and the continuous improvement of our business in northern Missouri.

“This capital project is a robust investment in our northern Missouri operation, producing additional good-paying jobs and promoting economic development that is vitally important to our region,” he added.

Existing nutrient treatment lagoons will be covered by impermeable synthetic covers, while barn scraper technology will be used to deliver raw nutrients of livestock waste to the covered lagoons. Alternative fuel equipment will later harvest and commercialize biogas produced inside the lagoons. The anaerobic digestion equipment will be manufactured by Roeslein & Associates’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Roeslein Manufacturing, in Red Bud, Ill.

“Environmental benefits from this project will be significant,” said Rudi Roeslein, president of Roeslein Alternative Energy and CEO of Roeslein & Associates, a leading firm in systems integration specializing in sophisticated modular construction. “Utilizing proven anaerobic digestion technology, we expect to achieve reduced greenhouse gas emissions, shrink MBM's carbon footprint, eliminate rainfall effects on treatment systems, all while capturing a valuable and renewable biogas energy resource.”

Roeslein has engaged investment banking firm Stern Brothers & Co. to finance the project. The Missouri Clean Energy District's PACE program is also under consideration as a financing option. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in the spring.